Halloween is right around the corner! Looking for a mix of melody and murder for your Halloween movie nights? Streaming platforms like Hulu and Netflix have both movie and stage adaptations that are free to watch.
Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street follows a vengeful barber returning to London after being wrongfully imprisoned, opening a barber shop where he murders his customers. His accomplice, Mrs. Lovvet, bakes his victims into pies for unsuspecting patrons. This show blends gothic horror, dark comedy, and operatic musicality. Razors, revenge and cannibalism make it a perfect spooky mood for your Friday night. It’s available on Paramount+, as well as to rent or buy from Apple Tv and Amazon Plus.
Young and innocent Brad and Janet find themselves stranded at the bizarre mansion of the eccentric Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the famous Rocky Horror Picture Show. What begins as a quirky detour becomes a night of mayhem, murder, metamorphosis, and mischief- the more they watch, the more the audience falls into the time warp. This is campy, spooky, musical, and weird in the best way. It’s as much a party as it is a film, making it ideal for a haunted Halloween watch list. This musical is often done locally, so check your local newspaper for dates. Currently, the movie version is streaming on Netflix and Hulu’s bundle with Disney+.
Does a killer plant at the heart of the story pique your interest? Maybe Little Shop of Horrors is up your ally. Seymour, a meek flower shop assistant, discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey 2, promising fame and fortune to their failing shop. But the plant has an appetite far beyond leaves- it craves human flesh and blood- and as Seymour succumbs to ambition, Audrey 2’s demands spiral into a darkly comedic chain of carnivorous consequences. The 1986 film version is currently available for streaming on Netflix and Apple TV.
These musicals serve up horror with a side of showtunes. This Halloween, dim the lights, grab some popcorn (or meat pies?) and let the ghosts, ghouls, and glam take center stage.
